AIB to Release 2013 Consolidated Standard Updates

MANHATTAN, Kan. -  AIB International will release the final six updated Consolidated Standards for Inspection in two phases starting mid-October. The new requirements of these six remaining Consolidated Standards, including Retail Facilities, Non Food Contact Packaging Manufacturing Facilities, Fresh Produce and Fruit Packinghouses, Grain Handling, Agricultural Crops, and Fresh Cut Produce will take effect January 1, 2014. After January 1, all client inspections will be conducted against the appropriate revised standard. The current Standards will remain in effect until December 31, 2013.

The first four updated Consolidated Standards for Inspection, which include Prerequisite and Food Safety Programs, Beverage Facilities, Food Distribution Centers, and Food Contact Packaging Manufacturing, took effect earlier this year on January 1. There are no additional changes to these Standards.

Regulatory developments, including the US Food and Drug Administration Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), and other industry best practices impacting the food industry worldwide have necessitated the updating process.

“AIB International is committed to remaining current on food safety matters and ensuring that our standards meet or exceed the industry standard. As a leading provider of food plant inspections, we proudly use our current Consolidated Standards to maintain our promised level of integrity and quality”, said Maureen Olewnik, Senior VP Food Safety Services, AIB International.

The AIB Consolidated Standards for Dairy Facilities has been discontinued as a stand-alone product and now the requirements of the Pasteurized Milk Ordinance (PMO) are incorporated into a scoring guidance document for interpretation. This product was discontinued because the requirements for dairy facilities are already covered in other Consolidated Standards (fluid milk in Beverage Facilities and non-fluid milk in Prerequisite and Food Safety Programs). The guidance document for PMO requirements will also be added to the website and available for download by mid-October.

The final six updated Consolidated Standards will be available online in both English and Spanish beginning mid-October. Additional guidance documents and a webcast explaining the changes will be released following the initial rollout phase.